President Ersin Tatar has concluded his visit to England and returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Upon his arrival at Ercan Airport, he was greeted by Speaker of the Parliament Zorlu Töre and other officials, Kibris Postasi reports.
At a press conference held at Ercan, Tatar shared insights from his visit to Manchester and London. In Manchester, he met with Turkish Cypriots, businesspeople, politicians, and other officials. Tatar highlighted that Turkish Cypriots are active not only in London but across various parts of England and acknowledged the interest in the TRNC from representatives of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the broader Muslim community.
In London, Tatar attended the Turkish Cypriot Culture Festival, which saw nearly 30,000 attendees. He expressed joy in meeting with citizens and emphasised the significance of former parliamentarian Iain Duncan Smith’s support for establishing direct flights to the TRNC and his advocacy for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Tatar praised the success of Turkish Cypriots in the UK and stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties. He stated, “Their success is our success. Turkish Cypriots are united, and the love for the TRNC remains steadfast regardless of location”.
During his visit, Tatar also participated in a meeting at the renowned think tank Chatham House, where he presented the two-state solution policy and explained the shortcomings of federal-based solutions. He noted the participants’ interest and underscored the importance of continuing to advocate for the truth about the Cyprus issue in political forums.
Tatar attended a parliamentary reception where he discussed the current state of the Cyprus issue and urged Britain to reassess its Cyprus policy post-election. He highlighted that Britain’s two sovereign bases in Cyprus remain untouchable, but their activities could make Cyprus a target.
Emphasising the injustices faced by the Turkish Cypriot people, Tatar insisted that these wrongs must be corrected. He also evaluated his meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Personal Representative, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, thanking her for her efforts. With Holguin’s term ending, Tatar noted that no progress had been made in restarting negotiations.
Tatar asserted that negotiations could resume only if the sovereign equal status of Turkish Cypriots is acknowledged. He stressed, “Our sovereignty is not negotiable”, and highlighted that the Republic of Cyprus was founded through the joint efforts of two peoples. He clarified that while they are not demanding recognition of the TRNC, the demands for direct trade, flights, and contact—referred to as “3D”—are crucial.
Tatar called for Holguin to prepare an impartial report, which will be submitted to the UN Secretary-General on July 10. The Secretary-General will then decide on the next steps.
Regarding property issues, Tatar condemned the Greek Cypriot actions aimed at undermining the TRNC economy, deeming them unacceptable. He pointed out that Turkish Cypriots left significant property in the south and reiterated that the Immovable Property Commission is the proper channel for resolving these matters.
Tatar stated that the property issue should be addressed through exchange, compensation, return, and cooperation between the two states, not individuals. He emphasised the essential role of the Immovable Property Commission in this process.
Tatar concluded by announcing plans to brief leaders of political parties represented in the Parliament and to meet with Colin Stewart, the UN Peace Force Mission Chief and UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Cyprus.
